Historically, abundant hair was considered a source of great beauty. Women padded, teased and curled their hair to give the impression of a full mane of hair. Nowadays, as stick-straight hair and thinning are popular, there is less pressure to have masses of locks – but for those who wish to maximise their tresses, choosing the right hair style is key.
Sock Buns Make Hair Look Thicker
A sock bun is filled with – you guessed it – a sock, or a foam doughnut shape purchased from a beaity supply store. Either way, the bulk of the bun actually isn’t hair. This makes sock buns a great way to achieve the illusion of bountiful hair. Leave small strands loose around the bun and curl them for even more volume.
Use Dutch Braids, Not French
Dutch braids are simply inverse French braids. They are made by crossing strands of hair under the middle strand, rather than over the middle strand as in a French braid. The resulting braid stands out from the head, giving an “embossed” look which can make a braid look full. In a French braid the hair gets tucked under itself, hiding the volume of the hair. Fancy styles such as crown braids and lace braids work just as well with Dutch braids as French.
Don’t Straighten Your Hair
Not only does straightening damage hair – and with thin hair, every hair counts! - but dead-straight hair looks thinner than hair with a bit of body in it.
Cutting Bangs Makes Hair Look Thinner
If your ponytail’s circumference is only an inch and a half, the last thing you want to do is remove a quarter of that volume. Thick, triangular bangs eat up a lot of hair volume, resulting in scantier hair at the back. Thin, wispy bangs or just a few face-framing side bangs will steal less volume, and wearing no bangs at all means all your hair can contribute to your updo.
Using “Bumpits” to Create Volume in Thin Hair
Bumpits are the modern equivalent of Victorian hair rats. They are headband-like devices shaped a little like the outline of a crescent moon – the inner edge fits against the scalp, and hair is lifted over the outer edge to hide the gap. The result is a fuller-looking, pompadour-style hairdo. Bumpits are more suitable for formal hairstyles than casual wear, and not everyone can pull off the “high-headed” look – but they’re worth a try! Beauty supply stores also stock similar hair padding devices, such as foam tubes which can be used to create Gibson Girl-style hairdos.
Wear a Hair Style More Loosely Than Usual
Styles such as French braids, braided buns and cinnabuns are often worn tight. Try making a looser version of the bun or braid – the hair will be less confined andthus appear thicker. Loosely-coiled braids may need some extra pinning. Be sure to coil buns to the hair lies flat against the head, instead of tightening the coils so they slip under the bun – a flat, wide bun that covers the back of the head gives the impression of more hair than a smaller, deeper bun.
Sarah Tennant - Sarah Tennant is a onetime English major who lives in New Zealand with her husband and two small children. Her interests range from ...
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